Excerpt
Sepi went to the bedroom and slipped into the attached closet. She undressed, acutely aware of how much the prospect of marriage and children scared her. Just the idea of being responsible for someone else’s life made her palms sweat. How could she watch her child go through everything she went through? How could she live seeing someone else cower at the mere presence of other people?
A child meant another person relying on Nat for a hand to hold just to get through the simplest of social interactions. Was Nat strong enough for that? Or would she buckle under the pressure, just one day say enough is enough and order Sepi and their son or daughter to grow up, be adults, and face the world themselves?
Sepi’s social anxiety already weighed down the relationship. In the dark times, she saw herself as a burden to Nat, an anchor keeping the wide-eyed ball of excitement from all the wonderful things in the world. Natasha Kumanov deserved to have everything she wanted, and yet she’d stayed, had fallen into line at Sepi’s hip and never left.
There was no doubt how much love Natasha had to give.
But Sepi wondered if she’d be better off giving it to someone else, someone who shared the same lust for life instead of being scared of it.
Por Vida
It's a great big world out there. Will you live long enough to see it all? Greet the future in an all-new synthetic body from Vitra Synth, an officially licensed partner of Perion Synthetics. Family rates available. Interest-free financing for well-qualified buyers.
Vitra Synth. Better living through synthetic transcendence.
In 2035, the future of synthetic living has finally arrived, but so too has the threat of a global machine war. Rising Hollywood star Sepideh Ahmadi never imagined she would transition to an artificial body, but when her longtime girlfriend Natasha develops a terminal illness, the choices become clear: either give up their physical bodies and stay together, or allow Natasha to die.
As a synthetic woman, Sepideh discovers there is more to being human than just her thoughts and memories. Smells are stronger, sensations are more nuanced. She is no longer anxious or nervous. She is no longer herself, and neither is Natasha.
Now, with a machine army threatening to invade California, crazed fans following her every move, and her new marriage slowly breaking apart, Sepideh must figure out who she will be in the centuries to come.
In a world where immortality can be purchased, will the cost be more than just money?
Book 4 | Science Fiction | 343 pages | ISBN: 978-1537788708 | 2017-01-09
Featuring
Kagan
Unknown
Vida
Unknown
Doyle
Unknown
Earl Glasser
Unknown
Reviews
Por Vida is independently published. If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review at Amazon and/or Goodreads.
While this book is not of my typical genre, I was in the mood for something different, and this book did not disappoint! I struggled to get into it at first, with all of the undefined words and abbreviations relating to a technology of the future, but once I got into it and got into the flow of the story I was hooked. Then, once I figured out what was REALLY going on I couldn't put it down and had to finish in that sitting and stayed up into the wee morning hours to do so.
A Gripping Tale of Obsession Gone Awry
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as it was masterfully told by an author in full command of his art. The story is one of unrequited love, technologies place in our day to day lives, all bootstrapped to a dark, fast-paced thriller. Every sentence seemed to drive the story forward to a frenetic conclusion. I found myself strangely sympathetic to the darker characters of the book, which surprised me. I finished this book in just two days!
A complete work from Verastiqui, I look forward to reading more from him in the future.Completely Absorbing
This is a wonderful and twisted tale full of realized and immediate emotion and Fascinating characters with vibrant thoughts and personalities.
I could easily see this being made into a great movie.
I couldn't put it down and thoroughly recommend this gripping novel.
I very much look forward to reading anything and everything this author has to offer.I received a free kindle copy of this book via the Goodreads Giveaways program and would like to thank anyone involved in making that happen.
This is a fun science fiction thriller. I liked the structure of the book and it's alternating viewpoints within two separate timelines that eventually converge and while I did guess the twist before it was revealed it was still fun being proved right. I also thought the world building was well-done and scarily realistic. Overall I really enjoyed this one and am glad I got the opportunity to read it!
Five Stars
Good read! Very entertaining!Another great book by Verastiqui
If you like science fiction to be the kind that seems truly possible, then read this book. A world where wars are fought by robots and where an expiring physical body can be exchanged for a semi-immortal 'sleeve' make this book truly thought provoking. The author does a great job combing drama, action, and philosophical questions, and his characters have flaws that bring out their humanity. There are many unpredictable plot twists that keep the surprises coming.NO WAY!
I love being fooled by a story. There was something about the multiple storylines that nagged at me, something not quite right... Until it was, and my "NO WAY" echoed in the room. I think in the back of my mind I knew "something was up" but it turned out I was one the wrong side of the line.
I can't wait to read it again, to see how many ways the author told me what was happening and I just missed it. That's a win in my book.Good Read
Full of twists, keeps the reader’s interest from page one. Somewhat dark, well-developed characters and exciting plot. I doubtlessly recommend it.So many surprises!
This book will keep you hooked until the last word. Plot twists and turns will keep you guessing and wondering. I read it in one sitting because I could not put it down.Fantastic! It's been a long time since I experience a "can't put it down" book. I couldn't put this one down.
One part science fiction, one part psychological thriller, and 100% edge of your seat thrill ride. The characters are complex and delightful. The plot is well thought out and solid. The little clues along the way... little things that made me roll my eyes at the continuity error... Let's just say when it suddenly makes sense, it's like a kick in the gut (and I mean that in a very good way).
Two stories set in 2035 and one set in 2045
Two stories set in 2035 and one set in 2045. What do they have in common? An up-and-coming movie actress's girlfriend is stricken with cancer. A business executive finds an old friend living on the streets. A man who lost his family to the MX Maquinas (Mexican robot army) rescues a woman from a plane crash.
This is a standalone novel, but there are several tie-ins to previous Verastiqui Vinestead stories. Perion Synthetics shows us transferring memories from a person to a synthetic/robot body; it also more fully introduces us to Guardian Angel technology that help keep people healthy and functioning (sometimes at superhuman levels). Guardian Angels (a short story) introduces us to Kaili Zabora (a terrorist). We see the early versions of augmented reality that are much more capable in the novel Veneer which takes place in 2149.
The novel is well written, contains gratuitous violence, and a liberal sprinkling of swearing in Spanish.Amazon Customer
2017-03-25
SoSo
To [sic] much Spanish with to [sic] little explanation. Book is interspersed with Spanish phrases, very few have accompanying translations.
The end
And the final page does not disappoint.
As always Daniel hit another one out of the park. Enough twists and turns to keep you binge reading until the end... And the final page does not disappoint.WHAT?!?
What just happened?!? I kept thinking that. This book will definitely keep you on the edge. You think you know.... and then you don't. Great read!An Engrossing Story
As always Verastiqui spins an exciting tale that is hard to put down at times. While full of the twisted cyber/synthetic sexual pathos we have come to expect from Verastiqui this tale has some really surprising plot twist. Having read all his books I find this to be his most mature to date, wrestling with anxiety, obsession, why we love and as always what it means to have humanity or be human. If you are new to Verastiqui I suggest reading Perion Synthetics prior to reading this.Good job, Mr
I'm only half way through the book, but I wanted to leave a quick review. Last night, after reading chapter 35, I literally said, "Holy f****** s***!" It's been a bit since a book has surprised me enough to speak outloud. Good job, Mr. Verastiqui, I'm impressed!Hanna Jones
2017-01-19
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The writing was not remarkable, but the story was fast-paced and the characters were believable. I found myself being sucked in despite the fact that Verastiqui's writing style wasn't my favorite, and that takes a certain type of talent.
If you are a sci-fi fan, you will love this book. I myself thought it was okay.
